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SpaceX Ready for Another Rocket Launch, Landing at Sea Attempt

April 25, 2016

(CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.) — SpaceX is set for another rocket launch and landing attempt next month following the historic landing of a Falcon 9 rocket at sea earlier this month.

The company’s next satellite launch is scheduled for May 3, a company representative told ABC News Monday. While SpaceX will once again try to land its Falcon 9 booster at sea after sending the payload into orbit, the particular rocket used in this launch won’t be the one SpaceX landed on April 8.

That rocket is undergoing testing and once it’s certified for re-use, could fly again as early as June, according to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.

The successful landing earlier this month marked the fifth time SpaceX had tried to land its Falcon 9 on a drone ship. The rocket appeared to land upright in relatively calm waters — a stark difference from previous attempts that resulted in fiery crash landings.

Mastering the drone ship landings is crucial for SpaceX. Musk said they are needed for “high velocity missions,” which would allow payloads, such as satellites, to reach a higher orbit.

SpaceX successfully landed a Falcon 9 rocket in December on land after launching a satellite into orbit. Having the ability to recycle rockets is something Musk has said will “revolutionize access to space” by reducing costs by as much as a factor of 100.